Tank-heater.



v E. B. WILLS.

. TANK HEATER.

Patented Aug.2, 1910.

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TANK HEATER. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 1910.

96 6, 147. Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

2 SHEETS-$11331 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR B. WILLS, OF MENDO'IA, ILLINOIS.

TANK-HEATER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR B. WILLS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Mendota, in the county ofLasalle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tank-Heaters; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make andv usethe same, reference being had to the aceompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification. I This invention relates to new and usefullmprovements in tank heaters, the object in view being to generallyimprove upon the form of construction of apparatus of this naturecovered by Patent No. 908,182.

The present invention comprises essentially in a heater a return flue ofany shape turning over the fire box to a point near the fuel opening anda pivotal damper within the casing covering the opening above the firebox and adapted to swing so as to admita direct draft from the fire boxto the pipe or to cause the draft to pass through the return fine.

The invention consists further in a heating tank of an adjustable firebox adapted to accommodate different kinds of fuel and provided with aremovable grate and also in the provision of a swinging damper mountedupon the movable grate and serving as a partition to guide the fuel in aheater.

The invention comprises various details of construction, combinationsand arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described andthen specifically defined in the appended claims.

I illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1 is a perspective view of a heater made in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the heater. Fig.3 is a vertical sectional view showing the grate at its farthest limitin one direction. Fig. 4- is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a heater which may be of any size and made up preferably oftwo complemental parts bolted together and adapted to be submergedunderneath the surface of the water. With- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed March 12, 1910.

Patented A11 2, 1910.

Serial No. 548,918.

in said heater is a chamber B having an opening B in the top over whicha sliding door C is mounted. Mounted upon the shoulders D projectingfrom the inner walls of the casing is a grate E having lugs E projectingtherefrom which rest upon said shoulders and one end of said grate iscurved vertically as at E and has a groove E in its upper edge, whileits other end is provided with curved lugs H adapted to engage therecesses I formed in an imperforate alate K, affording means whereby theashes falling upon the same may work down upon the grate E and passthrough the openings therein... Said grate E, when interlocked with saidplate K, may be moved back and forward and, when adjusted in theposition shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the plate K assumes aninclined position and the fire boX is adjusted to its contracted form,whereas in Fig. 3 the grate and plate connected thereto are horizontallydisposed and the apparatus adjusted for a'large fuel capacity.

The inclined portion L of the heater and upon which the plate K restswhen adjusted as shown in Fig. 2 is grooved as at L and serving as meansto guide the plate K as it is moved back and forth. Underneath saidgrates is an ash box N which, when the parts are adjusted as shown inFig. 2, may be moved horizontally and taken out through the opening atone side of the upright portion E of the grate E. Apartition, designatedby letter O, rests in the groove E and is adapted to be swung into theposition shown in solid and dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. Vhen saidpartition assumes the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2, in whichposition the damper rests against the wall 0' it closes the upperportion of the fire boX from communication with the opening B andaffords a passageway leading to the opening B whereby air for draftpurposes may pass through to the grate E and also afford means wherebythe ash pan may be removed without disturbing the fire.

Pivotally mounted in a notch R formed in one end of the laterallyprojecting partition Q forming one wall of the return flue Q is a damperR adapted to be swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to a positionshown in Fig. 3 whereby a direct current may be derived, as shown inFig. 2, or a return current produced by swinging the partition R to theposition shown in dotted 1 lines whereby the heat may be caused to passthrough the return flue and thence through the pipe S.

The operation of my invention will be readilyunderstood and is asfollows :lVhen the parts are adjusted as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2,a direct draft will be established from the grate direct to and throughthe exit pipe S, the space intermediate the partition 0 and the oppositewall of the passageway underneath the opening B atiordii'ig means forsupplying air for combustion'purposes to the grate, the air passing notonly through the openings in the horizontally disposed part of the grateE but also through the openings in the upright part E lVhen thepartition 0 is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, it willserve as a means for directing the fuel as it is passed through theopening and cause said fuel to fall upon the said grate and plate and,by swinging the damper R to the position shown in Fig. 3, a circuitouscurrent will be formed through the flue 0. By the provision of thehinged grate plate, the ashes may be drawn down through the openings in,the grate E to the box which may readily be removed without disturbingthe lire. By this construction of heater as shown, the fire may be sopositioned upon the adjustable grate as to come within the submergedportion of the casing. The fuel slide or damper may be removed, it notdesired, and may be conveniently taken out of the casing through theopening in the top thereof.

What I claim to be new is 1. A tank heater comprising a casing having anopening therein and adapted to be submerged in water and provided with areturn flue. a damper loosely hinged upon the wall of said flue andadapted to have a swinging movement within an exit opening from thecasing and cooperating with the wall of the latter and said flue to forma direct and indirect draft, an adjustable grate, shoulders upon thewall of the casing upon which said grate is mounted, an ash panunderneath said grate, and a swinging partition upon an upturned portionof the grate.

2. A tank heater comprising a casing having an opening therein andadapted to be submerged in water and provided with a return flue, adamper loosely hinged upon the wall of said flue and adapted to have aswinging movement within an exit opening from the casing, an adjustablegrate and plate hinged thereto, said grate being provided with integralhooked lugs, and said plate with recesses engaged by said lugs, aportion of the bottom of the heater being inclined and adapted toreceive said plate.

In combination, in a heater, a casing having an opening therein andhaving a laterally projecting wall adapted to cooperate with the wall orthe casing to form a return flue, a damper pivotally mounted in a recessat one end of said wall and .movable within a passageway leading to anexit pipe and cooperating with the wall of the casing and said flue toform a direct and indirect draft, a grate having a vertically disposedportion which is grooved at its top, its other end having curved lugs, apartition pivotally mounted in said groove, a plate having recesses inits opposite edges and engaged by said lugs, and an ash pan beneath saidgrates.

it. In a heater, the combination with a casing having an opening thereinand having a return flue and an exit opening, a damper pivotally mountedunderneath said exit opening, a portion of the bottom of the casingbeing inclined, a grate movable upon shoulders upon the casing andhaving an upturned portion grooved at its top, a partition pivotallymounted in said groove, lugs upon said grate, a plate having recesses inits opposite edges engaged by said lugs.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

EDGAR B. IVILLS.

\Vitnesses J. R. lVoons, GILBERT FABER.

